The Phillips DNA Project News

When comparing genetic distance between men, which is more important to look at, SNPs or STRs?

SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) offer a definitive answer to a potential relationship. When one person is positive (derived) for a SNP and the other person is negative (ancestral) for the same SNP, they are not related in genealogical times.

On the other hand, if both men have matching SNP results, their STR (short tandem repeat) marker results determine how recently they are related.